Deerfield Beach is officially breaking up with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. In a 4-1 vote on Jan. 21, 2026, the City Commission moved to end the city’s decades-long public safety partnership with BSO and start building stand-alone police and fire departments. The decision launches a transition period in which BSO will keep handling calls while the city assembles its own agencies. Supporters say the move will give Deerfield tighter control over staffing, spending and day-to-day operations, backed by a consultant’s study that projects significant long-term savings. Critics counter that the shift could open dangerous gaps in emergency response. The vote followed months of bitter negotiations over rising contract costs and dueling financial analyses.
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